Ahdttew b



(No Model.) 4

F.J.GOOPER..

I METAL WHEEL.

} N0.-554,055. v Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

W/f/Vfifii. j VVi V/ZZ T. KM vg \mm fi l y W M 'JQLWMMM %z4% UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. COOPER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AUGUSTA MESTER.

METAL WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,055, dated February4, 1896.

Application filed June 24, 1895. Serial No. 558,782. (No model.)

To an whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK J. COOPER, of Toledo, county of Lucas, andState ofvOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inllIetal WVheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures ofreference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to a metal wheel, and has for its object toconstruct a wheel of great rigidity and simplicity of parts in whichthe" expense of manufacture shall be materially reduced in comparisonwith those heretofore constructed in the same class.

A further object is to produce a wheel capable of being manufacturedwithout the aid of expensive machinery or skilled labor.

I have illustrated and shall confine the description more particularlyto a wheelbarrowwheel, although it will be apparent, and I wish itdistinctly understood, that the construction is alike adaptable towheels for use in childrens carriages, velocipedes, bicycles, andagricultural implements.

The invention consists broadly of a hub and a metal spoke of a length tobe bent around the hub and then twisted around each other, the endsextending outwardly and secured to the rim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a wheel constructed inaccordance with a proper form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectionaldetail showing one end of the hub in side elevation withoppositelydisposed sections of spokes mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the view shown in Fig. 2.

1 designates a hub preferably formed of a section of tubular piping of adesired length expanded at or near each end equidistant from the centerto form a limiting-stop or collar 2.

3 designates what I shall term a return bend spoke, formed of a singlepiece of wire bent around the hub, the ends being twisted around eachother, as at 8, forming a loop 4,

which embraces the hub 1 closely and in its angle radiating therefrom tothe rim 5, to which it is secured by riveting, which operation draws theloop closely against the stop or collar 2. I

i As illustrated in an eight-spoke wheel, the spokes consist of foursections of wire 3, respectively, this number being increased to anydesired number of spokes in even numbers.

It will be seen from the foregoing that in oppositely disposing thereturn-bend spokes I insure a perfect suspension from the hub when thespokes are properly riveted in the mm.

In adapting my invention to wheelbarrowwheels I preferably upset theouter end of the spoke, as at 0, to form a shoulder which bears againstthe interior surface of the rim with a projecting end riveted, as at 7,in the outer periphery, although in some forms of wheels I prefer todispense with the shoulder 6.

In the construction shown and described I am enabled by the twist 8 ofthe wire 3 to closely embrace the hub with such frictional bearing thatrevolution of the same is prevented to a degree to effect its utility,and again I construct the wheel without employment of expensivemachinery or high-priced labor.

WVhat I claim is- 1. In a metal wheel, a hub, spokes bent around thesame, the ends being twisted around each other and radiating toandsecured to the rim.

2. In a metal wheel, a tubular hub formed with annular stops or collarsequidistant from the center thereof, and spokes bent around the huboutside of the stops, the ends thereof being twisted around each otherand radiating to and secured to the rim.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. COOPER.

\Vitnesses WILLIAM WEBsrER, CARL H. KELLER.

